Really surprised how few bikers I have seen these last two weeks
 

Now I’m back near Tanger Med for my ferry home tomorrow, I can’t help but reflect on how few bikers I saw on the trails.

I tried to follow many of Chris Scott’s routes, including MH21, MH14, MH1, MH4, and others.

I think I only actually met 8 or 9 other European bikers on the trails.

Obviously, lots of locals!

Where were you all??? [emoji2368]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f98dc816e4.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cba053876e.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...81f521a33e.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...932fb08897.jpg

Well ... I was in Valencia, lol

Those trails look excellent though :)

After the lockdown in Morocco which has lasted such a long time people probably decided not to commit just yet until they know that booking the ferry won't be an exercise in frustration and effectively giving the ferry company an interest free loan. At some point, when the borders have been open for a while, people will return. Probably all the same week and then complain that the place is too full and that it didn't used to be like this.

Looking forward to your trip summery Rachel. I'm thinking of doing a similar route in 2023

Cheers
Steve

As near as I can figure, most folks are still concerned that the pandemic isn't quite over yet, and many of us are dealing with the aftermath - unplanned expenses so far and yet to come, lost work, concerns for the future, etc.

As for myself, I am flying south to Puerto Vallarta in a couple of weeks - it'll be my first opportunity to live my home province in over three years, and I am looking forward to it. It won't be a motorcycle ride, but I may rent a motorcycle or scooter while I'm there.

I was up in Scotland, where there were plenty of other bikers. As Jay suggests, the border situation is still too fluid for my liking. I can't afford to turn up and risk being denied.

I think what I’m saying is get a ferry booked quick as you’ll never get a chance as good as this to ride quiet trails!

As others have said. the 20 months of no ferries, zero information and lost money put people off. But hopefully that's now in the past.

In the meantime I was following Facebook posts from Noureddine Said of Loc2Roues/BM Attitude, who nowadays hosts a lot of fly-in biking tour groups, https://www.facebook.com/noureddine.said.3

Also Peter Buitelaar, of Bikershome fame, https://www.facebook.com/peter.buitelaar.1

Now that my vehicle has been relocated to Europe, this will be my next destination, either late in 2022 or mid 2023,I have not given up that dream!

Paulo

May is traditionally quite a quiet month anyway and 2 years of covid probably exaggerated the situation. April and October tend to be the peak for most travellers on a short visits.

A lot of my contacts are reporting a lot of travellers out there at the moment. But even pre Covid you would often be the only person at a campsite and not see anyone on the trails for days except locals

I have just now finished my four week bike trip, of which I spent three weeks in Morocco.

When leaving Morocco via Tanger Med last Monday I noticed many trail bikes coming in as well as going out. Despite the heat some are eager enough to start their trip right now.

On the trail as well as the hotels / campsites I had the same experience, it was quiet. But yet, I was rarely alone. There were always like minded people on bikes or cars.

I logged my route and put it on a map for anyone who is interested and wants to check it out:
https://www.adventure-maps.de/

There are also pictures on this channel from the trip:
https://www.instagram.com/saharamotoadventure/


Thank you to all people on this forum which I used a lot to plan my trip.
Special thanks to Chris Scott and his great book. I love it.
Thank you Tim Cullis for all your updates, they were very helpful to me.

Cheers to all
Kevin

You're right Rachel and as I made a round trip from Paris to Dakar and back from the 26th of April I can confirm I didn't meet with a lot of overlanders in Morocco, Mauritania or Senegal.
But in the last day on the road to Tanger med or at Barcelona ferry I saw a lot of bikes going down...
(I post a report of my trip in the Ride Tales section...)